Golden Gate Petroleum CEO/President Dennis O’Keefe signs the final paperwork to begin construction on Hawthorne’s newest truck stop across from McDonald’s on the Highway 95 bypass. Construction is set to begin the middle of next month. (Stephen Tool photo)
Golden Gate Petroleum hosted a luncheon at the El Capitan Lodge and Casino to celebrate the acquisition of land and the promise of paying jobs in the very near future. Attendees included GGP Chief Executive Officer and company president Dennis O’Keefe, along with the company’s point man, contractor for the project and others. On the Mineral County side, chairman of the planning commission Mark Nixon, Nixon’s wife, Cindy, County Commissioner Paul MacBeth and District/Hawthorne attorney Sean Rowe attended.
O’Keefe said the company intends to break ground on the project between July 15 and 20. “We were hoping to start July 7, which is my birthday, but we hit a little hiccup with NDOT, (Nevada Dept. of Transportation) but that’s been resolved,” O’Keefe said.
The CEO expects about 15-20 permanent jobs to open upon completion. He also said he expects the Port of Subs franchise, that the station will house, to add nearly that many positions as well. “Thirty to forty jobs in general.” O’Keefe said.
O’Keefe said his company initially reached out to Hawthorne about 10 months ago although he knew the town from the past because the company once supplied the base. He also said one of the reasons the company chose Hawthorne for a site is because the company is specifically looking for locations outside of the Reno/Washoe area.
“Hawthorne is a logical extension from our stations in Lovelock and Fallon. This is the kind of place we want to be,” O’Keefe said. O’Keefe also named Hawthorne’s prime location on Highway 95 as a key factor in the decision.
Completion of the project is expected in as little as four months. “This is a great time of the year to start, and experience tells us to expect completion in 120 to 150 days,” O’Keefe said.
The company plans to hold a job fair sometime within the next three months for prospective employees. O’Keefe said he expected a job fair from Port of Subs roughly within the same time frame.
GGP positions available include manager, assistant manager, someone overseeing the 15 gaming machines, cashiers and inside and outside cleaning/maintenance. “We’re open 365 day a year, 24/7. We’ll have jobs,” O’Keefe said.
GGP also intends a deep and ongoing involvement with the community. The company intends to start by making a sizeable contribution to a local charity.
“We’re really hoping to do a good job for everybody and for ourselves, too. People have been very helpful and we’re very, very excited about coming here,” O’Keefe concluded.
